Golf ball winding machine



April 5, 1949. R, ATTI GOLF BALL WINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets*Sheet l Filed Deo. 19, 1946 mm N@ mw INVENTOR RAPHAEL ATTI W ATTORNEY R. ATTI GOLF BALL WINDING MACHINE April 5, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1946 ATTO R N EY Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF BALL WINDING MACHNE Raphael Atti, Clilfside Park, N. J.

Application December 19, 1946, Serial No. 717,177

Claims.

This invention relates to golf ball winding machines.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved golf ball winding machine in which a substantially uniform tension is maintained on the string or strip of rubber before and while it is being wound in the formation of the ball consisting not only in a combination of tension exerting devices which supplement one another to produce not only a predetermined degree of tension, but also a smooth uniform tension throughout the winding operation irrespective of the diameter of the ball in the process of formation- These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific em bodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a front elevation of a machine made according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental plan partly in section of the ball supporting rollers.

Fig. 5 is a wire diagram of the wiring from th'e switches tothe machine.

In the embodiment shown, there is provided a platform I, secured to the upper ends of the upright plates 2 and 3. The front plate 3', See Figs. 1 and 2, extends slightly above the upper face of the platform I, and therefore defines the position of the cheek plate 4 extending upwardly from the platform I adjacent to the rear face of the front plate 3. This cheek plate 4 is secured to the platform I and front plate 3 by any suitable well known means.

Extending from the front face of the plate 3 there is provided a stub shaft 5 for securing the spool 6 on lwhich is wound a predetermined supply of rubber string or rubber strip about Tie of an inch wide by .020 of an inch in thickness. The spool E may be secured in place on the stub shaft 5y by any suitable well known means. From the spool 6 the strip of rubber I initially is passed over the idler 8 and from the idler 8 passed on to the large wooden idler 9. Preferably as shown, in order to guide the rubber band 'l to and from the idler 8, there are provided a pair of guiding pins I0 and II extending upwardly from the block I2 secured to the front plate 3 below the idler 8, such pins Il) and I I being disposed adjacent to but slightly spaced from the entrance end of the idler 8 as shown in Fig.. 1. Spaced from the discharge end of the idler 8 and also extending upwardly from the block I-2 there are provided the two guiding pins I3 and I4. The two pairs of pins l0, II and I3, I4 are alined relative to the parallel annular flanges I15 and I6, see Fig. 2, so that the strip l may be definitely guided from the spool B to the groove II between the ilanges i5 and I6. As` the strip 'I passes over the idler 8, it will be compressed by the roller I8 rotatably mounted on the stub shaft I9 formed on the lever 23, fulcruined on the stub shaft 2l extending from the front face of the plate 3. The lever 2@ has an arm 22 provided with a finger piece 23 to be engaged by the operator to lift the roller I8 from the idler 8 and facilitate threading the rubber strip I between the pairs of pins ID, II- and I3, I4, and between the idler 8 and roller I8.

The free end of the lever 2B hasv pivotally connected thereto the rod 24 having a supporting disk 25 at the lower end thereof to receive slotted weights 26, 23. The number and size of weights 26 mounted on the diskv 25 depends upon the pressure to be exercised by the roller IB on the idler 8. Preferably the idler 8` and roller I8y are composed of suitable polished steel. The large idler 5, as shown, is preferably secured to the sides of the drum 21 ywhich also is preferably composed of steel, having a polished cylindrical surface. This drum. 2'I and idler 9 concentrically secured to one another are preferably journalled on the stub shaft` 28 extending from the front face" of the wall 3. Any suitable means may be provided to anchor the idler 9- and drum 21 in place on the stub shaft 28.

The rotation of the drum.r 21 and inturn of the idler 9 isr retarded by the lever 29 restingv on the drum 2l, the lever 29 being pivotally cone nected by the screw 38 to the front face of the wall 3. Thefree end of the lever 29= has pivotal-r ly connected thereto the rod 3 I" which isv provided with a disk 32 at the lower end thereof to receive slotted weights 33',v 33. Preferably the lee ver 29 is composed of bronze to coopera-te with the steel drum 2lv so that a predetermined pressure may be exercised on the drum 21 to retard the rotation thereof Without effecting undue wear on the same.

From the idler 9' the rubber strip I extends to the groove 34 in the V-shaped idler 35" mounted onr the shaft 36. The groove 34 is disposed betweenI the ends of the converging faces of the conical surfaces 31 and 38 of the V-shaped idler 35. The shaft 36 ofthe idler 35 in the present instance is journalled in the cheek plate 4 and extends through` the parallel supporting plates 39 and 4|). The plates 39 and 4e extend upwardly from the upper face of the platform being spaced from one another with the plate 40 adjacent to the cheek plate 4 and the plate 39 spaced therefrom and disposed rearwardly of the plate 4. Preferably as shown, the plates 39 and 40 are connected to one another by the cross plate 4|. The plates 39 and 4U may be secured in place on the Vplatform by any suitable well known means.

From the groove 34 the rubber strip 1 is passed to the core of the ball to be wound. Such core is not shown but is well known in the art and is preferably composed of a small rubber ball in the technique known as a pill, frequently as small as three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and sometimes more or less in diameter according tc the price of the ball to be produced. These pills in the technique of manufacturing golf balls are frequently frozen to a temperature of about 50 or more below zero F. in order to obtain a satisfactory hard surface.

After the strip 1 is attached to this pill, the pill is positioned between the conical faces 31 and 38 of the roller 35 and the cylindrical face of the driven roller 42. This roller d2 is xed on the shaft 43, journalled in the bearings it!! mounted in alined openings formed in the cheek plate i and plate 4i). This shaft 43 has mounted thereon the cam 45 disposed between the plates 39 andlii, the shaft also being journalled in the bearings 46 secured in the plate 3S. The shaft 43 extends to the rear of the plate 39 and has xed thereon the sheave or pulley 41. The shaft 43 with the pulley 41, cam 45 and roller 42 are xed to one another and slidably as well as rotatably mounted in the`bearings 44 and d6. As the pulley @.1 is rotated in turn to rotate the shaft l-3, the cam 45 engaging the cam rollers 48 and 9 cause the shaft i3 to reciprocate or oscillate back and forth. The rollers 48 and 49 are journalled on the pins 59 and 5i formed on the` blocks 52 xed on the rod 53 supported in the plates' and 49.

The pulley 41 preferably is connected by the V-belt'54 to the pulley 55 on the shaft 56 of the motor 51. Excellent results have been achieved when the V-belt 54 is about three-eighths of an inch in thickness and the grooves of the pulleys 41 and 55 are designed to receive a V-belt of this thickness.

In order to anchor the ballv 58 being formed in position between the idler 35 and roller 42, there is provided the convex peripheral faced idler 59 journalled on the shaft 59 xed to the bar 5| slidable on the facing plate 52 secured to the front face of the cheek plate d. The bar i is guided in its vertical movement by the parallel bars 53 and 64 secured to the facing plate B2. rlhis idler 59 is weighted by the weight 35 mounted on the lever 56 which is fulcrumed on the pin 61 extending from the cheek plate 4.V The lever 96 is anchored to the pin 51 by any. suitable well known means. The arm 63 is in turn pivotally connected to the slidable bar 6| by the pin 53.

The weight 65 is provided with a set screw 69 in order to anchor it to the lever 65 according to the weight to be exercised, the weight 55 being otherwise slidably mounted on the lever E6. By this combination of weights, to wit, the weight 55 of the lever |36, the weights 25 of the lever 29, and the weights 33 of the lever 29, a predetermined tension may be eected on the rubber strip 1, and in turn on the ball 58 as the strip 1 is being wound on the ball 58. It has been found, as an instance, that the idler 9 and its associated weights 33 supe contact SSE-and the contact 34.

pleinent the weighted roller I8. It has been found, as an instance, that since the strip 1' is wider than it is thick, While it is passing from the spool 6 to the idler 9, a twist in the same when passing between the idler 8 and roller I3 may cause a jump. Without the idler 9, such jurnp would be transmitted to the ball 59 and cause the same to depart from its theretofore regular rotation. The idler 9, due to its extended surface, irons out such jump, absorbing the same so that the theretofore regular rotation will not be interrupted. This .regular or uniform rotation of the ball 58 will be achieved when the tension in the strip 1 is maintained substantially constant and the roller 43 is oscillated at an even Velocity, whch in turn will eifect a substantially uniform basket weave, the particular type of weave so necessary to produce a substantially perfect sphere.

For a conventional golf ball having a diameter of 1.50 inches, excellent results have been achieved when the motor 51 was set to rotate at a speed of i750 revolutions per minute, the weight exercised by the roller I8 approximated four ounces, the weight exercised by the lever 29 approximated four ounces, the weight exercised by the roller 59 approximated sixteen ounces, and the diameter of the peripheral groove l1 approximated four and one-half inches.

The control for the operation of the motor 51 and in turn for the rotation of the driven roller or drum 42 is also unique and a feature of the present invention.

The start button 19, as an instance, has two contacts 'El and 12 to be bridged by the button 1B. The contact 1| is connected by the conductor i3 to the contact 14, which in turn is connected by the conductor 15 to the main lead 15. The contact 12, on the other hand, is connected by the conductor 11 to the contact 18 from which current can pass to the contact 19 when the button E9 bridges the gap between the contacts 19 and 19. The contact 19, in turn, is connected by the conductor 9| to the contact 82 of the mercury switch 83 which when closed bridges the gap between the The contact S13, in turn, is connected by the conductor 85 tothe contact 89 of the microswitch E?, which when closed bridges the gap between the contact 86 and the contact 88. The contact 88 in turn is connected by the conductor 85 to the coil 99 ofv the magnetic switch which in turn is connected by the conductor 9| to the other main lead 92.

The mercury containing tube 93 of the mercury switch 33, as shown in Fig. 1, is preferably mounted on the arm 94 fixed to the pivot pin 95, which in turn is fixed to the arm 95, having the rubber strip 1 engaging the roller 91. The pin 35, in the present instance, is journalled in the cheek plate 4. Preferably, temporarily to anchor the arms 95 and 94 of the mercury switch 83 in circuit making position, there is provided a spring nger 98 secured to the cheek plate 4 into engagement with which the arm 96 may be moved and frictionally held in such anchored position, the position shown in Fig. 1.

The microswitchv 81 in. turn is preferably mounted on the block 99 secured to the rear face of the cheek plate 4.c`nyvhich in turn is secured the pivot pin for theflever HBH having the arm 29| positionedmto *engage .the microswitch 81 and having the"rarm` |92 extending into the path of movement' oithestop head |93 of the screw |94 securedto the lblock |95 extending from the front face of the plate 5|. l

From the foregoing, it will appear that when the microswitch 37 is closed, that is, is not actu- -ated into open position b-y the arm 223i, the mercury switch 83 is closed, and the stop button 80 is in its normal closed position, then upon actuating the start button 'it into closed position, it being in normally open position, then through the wiring just traced the coil @il will be energized.

Upon energizing the coil 9i?, the six switches M5, lill, Hi8, l'f, ll and ill will be actuated into closed position, and upon the subsequent release of the start button lil, whereupon it will return to its normal open position, that shown in Fig. 5, the current to the motor 5l will now pass, it then passing from kthe main lead l5 across the switch i923 to the conductor il?, and across the switch l i i to the conductor llt which is connected to the motor 5l. From the motor 5l', in turn, the current will pass through the conductor lili .to the switch ll, from the switch 509 by means of the conductor il?, to the switch lflb and then to the other main lead dil. While the circuit to the motor 5l is thus closed, the coil 9S will remain energized, the current to from it passing from the main lead 92 and conductor 9! to the coil 9B, and from the coil 9@ through the conductor S9, mioroswitch Si, conductor 35, mercury switch S3, conductor 8l, normally closed stop switch ilo, conductor iii?, switch lili, conductor Vil, switch IE?, and conductor i5 to the other main lead l.

When it is desired manually to stop the machine, that is, bring the motor 5'? to rest, it will only be necessary to press the switch button 80 to actuate it into open position, when the circuit from the main leads and S2, not only to the coil Sil of the magnetic switch, but also to the motor il?, will be interrupted.

In turn, after the machine has been started by initiall;T actuat g the starting switch button 'NJ and sufficient tension has been built up in the rubber strip "l, the roller @l may be pushed off the spring arm 93 when the roller il? will rest on the strip 'l between the idler 9 and the roller 35 in closed position of the mercury switch 83,

Should the strip 'l break or become exhausted, that is, end, then the arm 96 will descend into the position where it will open the mercury switch 83 and interrupt the circuit of the coil 9B and of the motor 5?.

In turn, on the other hand, after the ball 58 has increased in diameter to the size prescribed, which is determined by the adjustment of the screw Idd, the slide Si will rise to the point where the head i533 of the screw ltd engages and deiiects the arm i532 suihciently to actuate and open the microswitch 8l, when again the circuit to the coil Gl) and motor 5l will be interrupted.

Preferably the walls 3d and cooperate with two rearwardly extending walls, not sho-wn, to form a liquid tight container with the platform l to receive lubricating oil up to the desired height, preferably so that at least a part of the cam A5 will be running in oil.

Preferably the rubber strip extends from the supply spool i3, then between the two guide pins Il and It, then between the idler and roller i8, then between the guide pins i12 and i3, then under the idler 9 engaging at least one-half and between one-hslf and two-thirds ol the periphery of the groove il, then passing under the roller B'l of the mercury switch Sii, and tien under the V-roller 35, that is, between the V -roller 35 and driven roller l2 to the ball il in the process of being wound.

It vis obvious that various changes and modiiications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: f

l. The combination lof a supply .spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven .cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and nally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the pcriplieries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, and a second pressure exercising arm pivotaliy connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface ci said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might b-e transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound.

2. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being Wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum fixed to said large idler, a pressure eX- ercising arm engaging said drum, a, slide vertically slidable, a, roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to eiect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the eX- tensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched betere it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, and cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and i'ro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound.

3. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surfacecontact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum fixed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being Wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller land two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction ereated between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to eect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is Wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, cam means cooperating with said shaft f to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound, a pivotally mounted switch arm resting on said strip after suiiicient stretching tension has been created in the same, an electric motor drivingly connected to said driven roller, and an electric circuit for said motor including a mercury switch, said mercury switch mounted on said switch arm and operable to interrupt the current in the circuit of said motor when the strip is exhausted or broken and the switch arm descends.

4. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface Contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum Xed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball ele-ment being wound., a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound, an electric motor drivingly connected to said driven roller, an electric circuit for said motor including a microswitch, a pivotally mounted lever having two arms, and an adjustable screw mounted on said slide and engaging and actuating one arm of said lever whe-n the ball element being wound has increased to the size predetermined in turn to cause its other arm to actuate said microswitch to interrupt the current in the circuit of said motor.

5. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum xed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound, a pivotally mounted switch arm resting on said strip after sufficient stretching tension has been created in the same, an electric motor drivingly connected to said driven roller, an electric circuit for said motor including a mercury switch, said mercury switch mounted on said switch arm a'nd operable to interrupt the current in the circuit of said motor when the strip is exhausted or broken and the switch arm descends, a magnetic switch electrically connected to said circuit, and a main control having a stop and start switch electrically connected to said circuit whereby the current in the circuit may be initially closed when said start switch is actuated and said mercury switch is closed and in turn whereby the current in the circuit may be interrupted when said stop switch is actuated.

6. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be r0- tated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum xed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and en# gaging the ball element being wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being Wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a has ict weave by the strip on the ball element being wound, an electric motor drivingly connected to said driven roller, an electric circuit for said motor including a microswitch, a pivotally mounted lever having two arms, an adjustable screw mounted on said slide and engaging and actuating one arm of said lever when the ball element being wound has increased to the size predetermined in turn to cause its other arm to actuate said microswitch to interrupt the current in the circuit of said motor, a magnetic switch electrically connected to said circuit, and a main control having a stop and start switch electrically connected to said circuit whereby the current in the circuit may be initially closed when said start switch is actuated and said microswitch is closed and in turn whereby the current in the circuit may be interrupted when said stop switch is actuated.

'7l The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said `,'shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and nally to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum fixed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being Wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby efiecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound, a pivotally mounted switch arm rest-ing on said strip after sufcient stretching tension has been created in the same, an electric motor drivingly connected to said driven roller, electric circuit for said motor including a mercury switch and a micro-switch, said mercury switch mounted on said switch arm and operable to i tcrrupt the current in the circuit of said motor the strip is exhausted or broken and the switch arm descends, a pivotally mounted switch lever having two arms, an adjustable screw mounted on said slide and engaging and actuating one of said lever when the ball element being wound has increased to the size determined .in turn to cause its other arm to ot-exe sa roswitch to interrupt the current in the circuit of said motor, a magnetic switch electrically connected to said circuit, and a main control having a stop and start switch electrically connected to said circuit whereby the current in 10 the circuit may be initially closed when said start switch is actuated and said mercury and microswitches are closed and in turn whereby the current in the circuit may be interrupted when said stop switch is actuated.

8. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a, `driven cylindrical roller disposed. adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and finally up between said V-shaped supporting roller and said driven cylindrical roller to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact ef the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers, a pressure roller engag ing the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a bearing drum fixed to said large idler, a pressure exercising arm engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, a second pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and two pressure exercising arms cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball element being wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a sldably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, and cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being wound.

9. The combination of a supply spool of rubber strip, a small idler. a large idler, a freely rotatable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply spool to the small idler, then to the large idler, and nally up between said V-shaned supporting roller and said driven cylindrical roller to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip with the peripheries of said idlers and a pressure roller engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a slide vertically slidable, a convex faced roller mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, and a pressure exercising arm pivotally connected to said slide, said pressure roller and pressure exercising arm cooperating with the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to effect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is Wound upon the ball element being wound, and the eX- tensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound.

l0. The combination of a supply of rubber strip, a small idler, a large idler, a freely rotattable V-shaped supporting roller, a driven cylindrical roller disposed adjacent to said V-shaped supporting roller and receiving the ball element being wound, the rubber strip extending from the supply to the small idler, then to the large 11 idler, and nally up between said V-shaped supporting roller and said driven cylindrical roller to the ball element being wound and causing the small idler and large idler to be rotated by the surface contact of the rubber strip With the peripheries of said idlers, a first pressure exercising means engaging the rubber strip and pressing it into engagement with said small idler, a, bearing drum xed to said large idler, a, second pressure exercising means engaging said drum, a slide vertically slidable, a third pressure exercising means mounted on said slide and engaging the ball element being wound, said rst, second and third pressure exercising means cooperating With the friction created between said strip and the periphery of said large idler to eil'ect a uniform predetermined stretching tension in said strip before it is wound upon the ball elementl being Wound, and the extensive surface of said large idler functioning to iron out any jumps that might be transmitted to the strip when so being stretched before it passes to the ball element being wound, a slidably mounted shaft on which said driven roller is secured, and cam means cooperating with said shaft to reciprocate said roller to and fro and thereby effecting a basket weave by the strip on the ball element being Wound.

RAPHAEL A'I'II.

No references cited. 

